Now that so many elementary school students are adept at using a computer, Illinois educators want to take them to the next level: programming them.
More specifically, the skill called “coding” is starting to slowly be phased into curricula at districts across the state.
Pennoyer School in Norridge has joined the frenzy to train students in a skill that would take them down a career path where they would be assured to find a job.
“There are more jobs for coding than people with the knowledge,” said sixth-grade teacher Willie Madueno.
Pennoyer Principal Susan Miceli noted the field is new, and competent employees are hard to find. “I hope this spawns an interest,” she said.
Broken into various age- and ability-appropriate options, the one-hour tutorial the school is using to introduce the skill, is geared to help students write computer codes so they can design programs and games, among other things, said Miceli.
Khan Academy, a not-for-profit global agency, created the “Hour of Code” program, a national online application that teaches the skills of coding.
Code is a specific kind of language that will tell the computer what to do, Madueno told his students.
“It’s imperative students learn this, and the sooner the better, so it’s not a barrier,” Madueno added.
He noted the code-writing program fits in well with the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program.
“It ties into STEM, and can be integrated into every aspect of technology,” he said.
Student Gianfranco DellaSantina said he was quick to catch on to coding.
“I’m comfortable with working on a computer,” he said. “It comes naturally, so I always help others. He credited learning by practicing. He said his goals are to build websites and shapes.
“Anything on an electronic [device].”
Natalia Houpy also caught on quickly.
She credited knowing coordinates from math, which helped her with the design.
“I want to do something different, something creative,” she said.
Filip Majka said learning the code was a little complicated at first. “But it was fun once I got used to it.”
His introduction to code piqued his interest. “I’m ready to learn more.”
Alex Ojea learned how to make rectangles, but he is not stopping there.
“I want to be writing code so I can be as big as one of those Microsoft guys,” he said with a big grin.
